(19)
(11) EP 1 616 529 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
15.02.2006 Bulletin 2006/07

(43) Date of publication A2:
18.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/03

(21) Application number: 05014156.3

(22) Date of filing: 10.02.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61B 18/12(2006.01)
 H03L 5/02(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 09.04.1997 US 838548

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
98300964.8 / 0870473

(71) Applicant: Sherwood Services AG
8200 Schaffhausen (CH)

(72) Inventor:
  • Gines, David Lee
    Fort Collins, CO 80525-5535 (US)

(74) Representative: HOFFMANN EITLE 
Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)

   


(54) Electrosurgical generator


(57) An electrosurgical generator for applying output power to tissue (14) to desiccate tissue. The electrosurgical generator comprises a controller (12) for cycling the output power to cause a cycling of the tissue impedance; and a tissue impedance measurement circuit (15) coupled to said controller for measuring impedance of the tissue. The controller cycles the output power by applying a predetermined amount of output power to said tissue, lowering the output power upon an output voltage reaching a predetermined maximum, re-applying the predetermined amount of output power to said tissue if a measured tissue impedance does not indicate desiccation of the tissue, and terminating output power when the measured tissue impedance exceeds a predetermined value, the predetermined value corresponding to a desiccated condition of the tissue.







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